MEA revokes Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi's passports

On Saturday, passports of both - owner of Gitanjali Gems, Mehul Choksi and billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi - have been revoked by the MEA upon failing to respond after cause notice was given. 

PNB CMD Sunil Mehta and Executive Director KV Bramhaji Rao were also questioned by the CBI on Saturday. 

Earlier, after Mehul Choksi, wrote a letter to his employees, his lawyer Sanjay Abbott informed that the letter sent by the owner to the employees was for them to gain clarity on the situation.

"Letter was written because everything has been sealed. My client is not in a position to operate any account to pay the employees. So it was written to tell them that they are free, and dues will be paid when the situation returns to normalcy," he said.

He further said that the amount was taken towards official purposes, and added that the matter will be examined extensively once the charge-sheet is filed.

Moreover, Abbott informed that he is unaware of his client's location even though they are in touch. 

Also read: 'You destroyed my brand': Read full text of Nirav Modi's letter to PNB

Choksi, in a letter to his employees, stated that he would be unable to clear their dues in lieu of the ongoing probe in the 1.77 billion dollar scam.

In a communication to over 3,500 employees, said it would be "very tough" to clear dues of his employees or pay future salaries, as investigative agencies had seized his bank accounts and other properties, adding that the manner of investigation was starting to create havoc, and was hell-bent on stopping the operations.

Read the full letter dated 23 February 2018 written by Mehul Choksi to his India employees.